Where Are You From & Where Do You Hunt Blacktails?

[spectr17]

How about some introductions?

Where are you from and where do you hunt Blacktails?

Do you use a bow or Rifle? What kind.

Who taught you to hunt blacktails and when was your first blacktail hunt?

What is your dream blacktail hunt?

I'm from southern California and have never hunted blacktails although I would like to venture up to northern California to try it one day.

I currently use a PSE Coyote recurve and a 300 Winmag.

[trinitycounty]

I live in anderson ca. I hunt up by lewiston, thats were I grew up and also hunt on a private ranch by callihan.

[treekiller]

I live in Sandy, Oregon (east of Portland). I hunt blacktails with bow or rifle, and camera. Like the camera best because there's no bag limit!

[gasdocwannabe]

Im in Southern California too...I am a slowly converting/modifying my hunting from strictly upland game/falconry to include deer/big game. I will be hunting the A zone (Los Padres area) and D 14 if they don't shut down the forest again. I'm basically teaching myself and learning from some guide friends of mine. I shoot a Weatherby .30-06 or a .243.

[niels]

I'm originally from Arcata, Ca. and have done most of my blacktail hunting in the B-1 zone. I hunt with a Remington model 700 bdl in 7mm-08.

I was introduced to blacktail hunting by my dad back when I was only 7 years old, I killed my first buck when I was 12, and ever since then, I've been addicted to hunting for these awesome coastal deer, I'm 34 now.

[MULEY51]

Hello everyone. I've lived in Santee, CA (20 miles east of San Diego) for the last 30 years, but all of my deer hunting is in D-7 in the mountains of central CA. Spent the first 19 years of my life in a small town the D-7 area (Sanger) and always hunt there so I can take Dad, since he's lived there all his life and he, and my uncle, taught me a lot about hunting when I was a kid. Been hunting since I could convince someone to let me tag along (I think I was 7).
I've used the same Remington Woodmaster 30.06 for 32 years now and the sucker is still as accurate as ever.
Best/dream hunt already happened...Dad and I both got our bucks on the same trip in '94..it was great to see him score again, since it had been 20 years and he's 77 now and not too many hunts left.
Great website Jesse!

[Mattk53]

Hello, My name is Matt, I grew up in Fortuna and recently moved to Hydesville (Both in Humboldt County, CA). I started Hunting when I was 14 on my Families property in the Dinsmore area. My first hunting gun was an 1906 open sight win. 30-30, then I went to a rem. 30-06, I now shoot a Browning BLR in 7 mm rem mag. I also do some bow hunting, but have never stuck one yet. I teach PE at Fortuna High School and I'm also the head JV Football coach and the throws coach for the Track and Field team. Living next to the Pacific Ocean I also enjoy Salmon fishing, Abalone diving, Clamming, Crabbing, Rock fishing, Surf fishing, etc. It's good to meet everyone.

[raghorn]

i'm from san francisco bay area,i hunt with a bow and gun,a friend got me into hunting i went out and bought a savage 110 model then the fool packs up and move end of friend.so i figured its like camping right so i pack up the gear and headed for mendecino nat'l forest with no clue saw lots of deers but nothing legal.now i hunt fhl,trinity,mendecino,my blacktail dream hunt is getting picked for special tags,now been hunting with a bow,got my first deer with a hoyt i sold now i use a jennings and for rifle i use a blr 81 7-08mm or if the whethers is bad i use a howa ss 308win.

[snoopdogg]

As noted in the Bear Hunting Roll Call, I'm Oscar from Sacto, hunting deer since 88, hunting D-5 with my 30-30 Savage bolt action in the early years and now with my Remington 30-06. Smoked a couple of nice blacktails from the b-zones and one from the Sierras. Started bowhunting 'bout 4 years ago, yet to plug anything, but have seen some doozies (deer/bear) in the Alps.

Dream hunt for blackies is a Wilderness hunt (packed in) because I do everything on my own tootsies and although I get 9 miles in; I'd like to lose a few more tree-huggers by going further.

[BDB]

I live in SF by way of Nova Scotia. I have been in the bay area for 4 years and only hunted 2 of them. Most of my hunting has been white tails on the east coast. First choice weapon is a bow and second is a 303 british (hard to tell I'm Canadian huh). Gun has been completely redone and I just can't bring myself to stop using it in favor of a newer bolt gun.

I'm new to blacktails and don't really have a dream hunt other than a nice chuck of private property with lots of deer and no hunters where I can walk around with my bow all season. I'm still waiting for my first CA deer, muley or blacktail.

raghorn: Not that many of us bay area bow hunters. I only know of you, me, Speckmisser and Big Bubba Daddy. Like you, I headed up into Medocino NF on my first year and still go there. We should all try and hook up for a hunt this season.

Steve

[bubba]

Where are you from and where do you hunt Blacktails?Los Banos, CA. Hunt them allover CA. Best luck has been on a ranch just north of Livermore.

Do you use a bow or Rifle? What kind. Winchester Mod 70 300 Win Mag 150 grain power points

Who taught you to hunt blacktails and when was your first blacktail hunt?
Uncles

What is your dream blacktail hunt? Sitka blacktail up in Alaska

[MQ]

I reside in the SF Bay Area and do most of my blacktailing in D-5. Used to do the A-zone, but I ended up watching more for poison oak than for deer. August is for albacore I have decided. I've hunted D-5 all my life and really enjoy the high altitude adventures, not that my success rate is anything to brag about.

I use a Browning BLR in .308, the one my father bought me 30+ years ago. Easy to handle, pretty accurate for a lever and plenty of poop for a deer (kicks pretty good too).

[wmidbrook]

Treekiller has a nice touch with a camara --that's one of the best blacktail pictures I think I've ever seen.

I now reside in Ripon, CA. Relatively new to this part of California. The best blacktail huntin' I've seen in CA was on a ranch that crossed both the A&B zones in the foothill country.

I was fortunate to live up in AK for just under 6 six years. A couple of those years was spent on Kodiak. In the late 80s, the deer were very plentiful there and it was a meathunter's dream. I wouldn't mind going back there with plenty of time to get one with a nice rack since that seems to be a bigger deal to me these days. Or I would like to do a long wilderness hunt one of these years. I might start putting in for the late archery Covelo hunt one of these years.

[hicountry]

hey im from northern california (grass valley)and ive been hunting blacktails for 6 years. I use a rifle but am getting into bows.My rifle is a remington 710 in 3006.i am also a reloader.my dream blacktail hunt would be a sitka hunt.
hicountry

[BDB]

Hey there hicountry. I was in your neck of the woods two weeks ago fishing and looking around. I never hunted up that way though, maybe this season. We were camped out on the Yuba about 10 miles from downriver from Downieville.

Welcome to the forum, or maybe you have been here for a while and I have just never seen your id.

[hntndux]

I hunt blacktails on private property located in B3, B4 and B1. I hunt on public land in B2 on occasion... I use my trusty .270 Win Featherweight with handloads stuffed with 140gr bullets of various makes trying to find an excellent one. So far Sierra is winning the competition... Nosler BT's just struck out and Hornandy Interbond (130's) will start off the next inning.

[Wash]

Man I can't believe knowone from Washington chimed in, hunt Blacktail when I can't get east to chase whitetails, and mulies. mostly the late season. Still waiting for that huge snow, so I can track these buggers down then I may get serious about chasing the ghost of the northwest woods.

[hamradiofan]

New Member here. I am from the Sacramento area. I hunt G1 each year. 4 deer in last 4 years. We take a week of and hunt the whole week. We have a group that gets together every year and we have a ball. Hopefully we get drawn for 2nd session in the Tehama Wildlife area. I shoot a Browning A Bolt Boss in 7mm mag. Absoulutely love it.

Definitely looking forward to filling out the info on that blaze orange tag this year.

Good Luck,

Hamradiofan

[KevinZ]

I am originally from central Arkansas, but now live in San Ramon, CA (SF Bay area). I have hunted whitetails all of my life and still go back home to hunt for a week every year (usually get a real nice one about every other year). However, a week of deer hunting is just not enough, which is why I have decided to give Blacktails a try. I am a member of the Wilderness Unlimted club, so hunting locations will vary (mostly in Sonoma or Mendocino counties).

Browning A-bolt in 270 Win. I have been thinking about taking up a bow again (took a few whitetail does with an old Bear bow while in high school years ago).

Who taught you to hunt blacktails and when was your first blacktail hunt - Nobody (anybody with advice is free to offer it up to me).

I have not yet formualted my dream hunt - give me a year or 2 to figure out this species. However, I would say up front that it would have to include cooler weather (don't know about this summer hunting yet).

[alumtuna]

:JHP rocks:
Hello All and Thx Jesse for the Forum,

I'm a new hunter and a new one to Cal. Hunted for 5 years mostly in Mendocino. Deer and some pig. Have gotten 1 deer so far and on public land. Love the outdoors and camping also. Sometimes its good to be in the outdoors. Also fish alot and been fishing all my life.

Shoot and tow an A-Bolt in 7mmMag.

Nice to meet you all!

[Catahoula Kid]

I've hunted blacktails since 12 years old with my father. Now im 50 and still get buck fever. Started hunting around Truckee then Chester area then B1. Last 20 years Lake County. I live in Fremont but have 2 houses in Lake County.I've hunted pigs with dogs all over. Sonoma, Lake,Mendocino Counties. Cant keep up with them anymore. Deer hunting is my favorite, have 2 boys that hunt also. Use a Browning A Bolt Stainless Stalker with Boss, and leupold 4.5x14 scope. I know Lake County very well. First rifle was a winchester 30-30, still have it.

[Monsterbull]

I live in the East Bay Area, but spent most of my deer-slaying days in Siskiyou Co (McCloud) and Oregon. I pretty much archery hunt these days, I'll be heading off to the old stomping grounds for the A1 (C-zone archery) this weekend. With any luck I'll stain an arrow before heading up to Oregon to stick an elk next month.

[Hawk 1]

If I don't draw a Nevada tag (which seems to be the norm lately) I will usually backpack into the Trinity Alps or hunt around Snow mountain. Sacramento is the home base with the Weatherby Ultralight weight in a .308 being the rifle of choice.

Hawk 1

[DanV]

I have lived in Esparto for the last 14 years and basically started my deer hunting career seriously in the last 10 or so years. I hunt only on public land which I've got plenty of within an hours drive, Knoxville, Payne's ranch and that big ole hunk of BLM and F/G land that goes from the North fork of Cache Creek near Clear Lake down to Lowater Br. on Hwy. 16. Thousands of acres and thankfully most of it has no vehicle access past the parking areas. I shoot a SS Browning A-Bolt in 7mm mag. with 160 gr. Partitions for all my big game hunting. My dream hunt would be on a private ranch that nobody has hunted for a while, also better if pigs were there also. So far no luck in the porker dept., should not complain as I get a buck most years but it sure would be nice to find a hog! :JHP rocks:

[Lone Wolf]

Hello everyone, I'm new here in fact this is my first post. So this is where all the Californians are.

Anyway I live in Antelope Valley (N.E. LA Cnty), California and in California I hunt in zones D-11 and D-13. I've also been known to hunt pigs at Tejon Ranch, when the budget and wife allows.

I'm originally from South Carolina, but have lived out here for 15 years. I grew up hunting whitetails, and learned upon my moving here that nothing I knew about hunting in the south applied here. You might say I learned to hunt in California by trial and error, a lot of reading, and a lot of asking questions at the local gun stores. But I've managed to pull it together enough to get a few deer here, when they don't close the forests that is.

I have several rifles in my battery but normally hunt around here, especially if I'm humping the mountains, with a Rem. Mod 7 in .308 or a Win 70 F/W also in .308.

[Backcountry]

Hi all,

First post here (thanks again BDB for pointing me this way).

I’ve rifle hunted on-and-off (mostly off) for the last 22 years in A zone for down in Templeton (near Paso Robles) where my cousins have a hay/grain ranch. I got my first deer down there when I was 14 and I’ll never forget it. I used a custom built Mauser .308 topped with a 4x Leopold then, and that’s still my rifle today.

In 1991 I was successful in rifle season in the northern part of A zone in the Jackson State Demonstration in Mendocino County. I moved away to go to college and grad school (Colorado then Pennsylvania) for about 8 years and now I’m back in the Bay Area and finding some time to hunt again.

Over the past year I’ve gotten into archery and bowhunting. Two weeks ago, on the closing weekend of A zone bow season, I launched 4 arrows over the backs of three different bucks in the course of 24 hours (I doubt I’m the first person to do this). All shots were on my cousin’s ranch in Templeton in open fields (with zero features to help judge distance) and required a stalk of from 15 to 50 minutes (what a rush). After the fact, we measured all my misses and all were less than 25 yards. The problem was, I used the 40 or 50 yard pin on every shot (doh!). Yes, I now have a laser rangefinder.

My bow is a PSE Durango Lite single cam that pushes PSE Carbon Force Extreme 200 arrows tipped with Muzzy 90 4-blade broadheads at 263 fps. I’m a member of the Kings Mountain Archers club in Woodside and we have a beautiful field archery range in the redwoods, plus a nice practice range and clubhouse (PM me if you want more info on the club). A couple of the more experienced members are setting my straight, teaching me to tune my bow and build my own arrows.

I’m bowhunting Labor Day weekend in D5 in a spot where last weekend I saw zero hunters and 9 legal bucks (one was a 4x5!). These bucks are not the migratory muleys as I see them all year round (mid elevations 3,500-5,000 feet), so I’m hoping my history of seeing them so often when I don’t have a bow (and them seeing me not threatening them) is going to pay off.

Cheers!

Backcountry

[BDB]

Welcome aboard Backcountry. I'm sure you'll like it here there are some great folks and good stories to pass the off season

[Larzep]

I am from Nipomo, CA and my dad introduced me to hunting when I was a 12 now 30. I hunt A zone public areas near highway 166 or Pozo/ Lopez canyon. This year we got permission to hunt on a 2,200 acre ranch in Los alamos and should be fun.
My favorite rifle to use is a 25-06 or 30-06 remington 700 with Bushnell elite scopes.

[RAPTOR]

I was born and raised in Fortuna, CA. and started hunting Blacktails when I was 12. Have always hunted B1 and that same area before there were hunting zones in CA.I have hunted with a bow, but more often a rifle. I still use the Mauser 98, 30 06 that I built in a gunsmithing class at Fortuna High School back in the 1970's.It shoots good and has killed quite a few bucks. I don't know for sure but I doubt that they allow gunsmithing to be taught in high school anymore.We brought our guns to school back then(for the class) and never had a problem.

[Backcountry]

Originally posted by RAPTOR@Aug 22 2003, 03:22 PM
I still use the Mauser 98, 30 06 that I built in a gunsmithing class at Fortuna High School back in the 1970's.

This warms my heart and makes me feel sad all at once. Sounds like you went to a great HS.

Are there any HS's left in America where you can still utter the word "gun" and not end up on the evening news?

Backcountry